Association News: IAEE

IAEE welcomes new board members; Elects LVCVA’s Meyer 2010 Chair

ATLANTA — The International Association of Exhibitions and Events announces the results of this year's election to its board of directors. At the Annual Business Luncheon held Dec. 10, Chair Margaret Pederson passed the gavel to incoming Chair Chris Meyer, CEM, CMP, vice president of Sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, who will serve through 2010.

Meyer has been in the exhibitions and events industry since 1984. He has extensive experience in the hotel, meetings and sales area. He is currently Vice President of Sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Prior to joining LVCVA, he held numerous sales and marketing management positions with multiple hotels, resorts and casinos in Las Vegas. He is a 1984 graduate, University of Nevada, Las Vegas majoring in Business Administration / Management Information Systems. He is also involved in MPI, Las Vegas Hospitality Association, Destination Marketing Association International and the Las Vegas SKAL Club.

"The coming year is going to be critical for the convention industry and IAEE," Meyer said. "We must continue to build on the solidarity that has developed in the industry in response to the challenges of the past year. We have to continue to communicate the importance and value of face-to-face meetings and the impact our industry has on company bottom lines and the economy as a whole. We are seeing positive signs about the future of the industry, but we must continue to work hard to maintain our reputation and value to corporate America."

New to the IAEE board of directors in 2010 John Galante, president of AE Ventures; Tony Lee, vice president of Meetings & Expositions for the Craft & Hobby Association; and Ryan Strowger, CEM, director of Business Development for the Consumer Electronics Association/CES. Joe Popolo, CEO of Freeman and David Weil, CAE, senior director at SmithBucklin Corporation have been re-elected to serve an additional three-year term.

Other members of the IAEE board of directors are: Chairman-Elect Vincent Polito, managing director of VP International; Secretary/Treasurer Robert Kolinek, CEM, CMP, president and CEO of Helen Brett Enterprises Inc.; Immediate Past Chair Margaret Pederson, president of Amirexx LLC; Doreen Biela, CEM, senior planner of Meetings and Events for McDonald's Corporation; David Boon, director of Commercial & International Affairs for Brussels Expo; Jack Buttine, president of Buttine Exhibition Insurance; Brian Casey, CEM, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority; Jonathan "Skip" Cox, president of Exhibit Surveys, Inc.; Jennifer Hoff, CEM, president of Events for National Trade Productions, Inc.; Jo-Anne Kelleway, CEO of Info Salons International Pty Ltd; Jim Kelley, corporate director of Sales for ICAT Logistics; Jason McGraw, senior vice president of Expositions for INFOCOMM International; Priscilla Phillips, Pat Phillips Productions LLC; and Jeffrey Quade, executive vice president of Sales & Marketing for GES Exposition Services.

The IAEE Board also includes ex-officio members Carrie Freeman Parsons, vice chair of Freeman, representing the Center for Exhibition Industry Research; Robert Kolinek, CEM, CMP representing the Exhibition Industry Foundation; Edward Liu, managing director for CEMS and chairman of the IAEE Asia Exhibition Council; Paul Schweitzer, Vice President of Business Development for Marketplace Events representing the IAEE Public Events Council; John Mikstay, CEM, manager of Events Audits at BPA Worldwide, representing the IAEE Robert L. Krakoff Future Leaders Institute, sponsored by Champion Exposition Services; Robert Dallmeyer, CEM representing the IAEE Services Council; and Steven Hacker, CAE, president of IAEE.

Members of IAEE's Board of Directors are elected on an annual basis by the official voting member of each IAEE member company. All officers serve a term of one year, except the Secretary/Treasurer who holds office for two years. The directors are divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, each to serve three years in staggered terms to ensure continuity in the governance of the association.

Since 1928, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events(tm) (IAEE) continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE. Through the 2006 consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEE delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEE also supports IAEE Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that partners with industry suppliers and service providers to offer high quality, low cost exhibition products and services to the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: American Airlines, ASP, Inc., Bearcom, IEG, Mexico Tourism Board, Orange County Convention Center and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.